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Friday, July 8, 2011

If you’re doing any of these things, you’re probably leaving money on the table with many of the items you sell.

Listing an item at the wrong time. It is said that more buyers browse Internet auction sites on Sunday evenings than any other time during the week. If your auction is scheduled to end at any other time than Sunday evenings (specifically between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern time), you’re not getting the maximum exposure for your auction at a time when people are most eager to buy.

Not giving your photos the attention they deserve. One common mistake that people make with the photos they use is not having enough pictures to accompany your item’s description. Over the years, I’ve learned pictures of your item are one of the most important components of your sales page.Multiple pictures from various angles will ALWAYS help you get higher bids for your products.

Using flashy listings. These listings use all kinds of flashing animation, multicolored text and other bells and whistles in an attempt to entice bidders. In fact, it does just the opposite. Listings like these are distracting, hard to read, and will always discourage people from bidding, resulting in a lower final sales price. The descriptions that you give of your item on your sales page ARE NOT designed to get a buyer’s attention (you already have that if they’ve clicked on your listing in the first place). They should be designed to get someone to actually place a bid.

Using a reserve. Using a reserve to guarantee that you’ll get a minimum price for an item can kill your auction. Nothing scares away potential bidders more than seeing the "Reserve Not Yet Met" tag. If you’re truly concerned about a minimum price, just set your starting price a little higher.

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About Me

I discovered eBay in 2001. After buying a few old postcards I quickly branched out into selling. Learning the ropes involved a lot of trial and error, but now many years later, I am an eBay PowerSeller. I have also been featured in a book about eBay sellers, which can be found at local bookstores, “Tips and Tricks of the eBay Masters” by Michael Miller. And, I am a registered eBay Trading Assistant: I sell consignment items for a few local people.
I live in central Nebraska with my husband John and our youngest daughter. I have 7 other daughters who are married, living on their own, or in college.